Ruth Minsky Senders 'the Cage'

In The Cage, Ruth Minksy Sender uses the theme of hope throughout the book. Despite the horrific struggles that Riva and her family are faced with she remains still hopeful, always holding on to the words and the voice of her mother, who although physically gone from her she is still the closest thing to her heart motivating her to continue her every step with a heart full of hope.
Early on in the story Riva's family is slowly being stripped of all of their possessions and eventually all of their rights. Day by day more Jewish families are being thrown out of their homes and robbed of their belongings. When the Volksdeutsche come to rob their home, Riva's mother pleads and begs for them not to take their tile oven since it is winter and they need it to warm the home. The oven is gone and the love of their neighbor Mrs. Gruber and the family is left in shock but not without hope. Mama insists that the family will be alright as long as they can stay together and be hopeful that things will be alright.
Another incident involving Riva and her cousin Saba occurs where they are in the street and suddenly a Nazi stops her and kicks her to the gutter only to realize there are Jews all in the streets being led around by the Nazi and all Riva is thinking about for a moment is that they are going to die. But Riva is strong and although her heart pounds violently and her tears run she is still hopeful. Her mothers voice comes to her and whispers for her to be brave and from then on, she is full of hope and will to continue.
Riva's mother is a constant hopeful reminder, a constant voice that lingers in the back of her head. For when she cannot hear a thing Mama's voice is there pushing her through. Sender's The Cage is a truly moving story full of hope and how it can empower the human spirit.